Inband visor cap



United States atent fl[ice 3,292182 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 3292182 INBAND VISOR CAP Walter E. Schuessler, 800 Redbud Laue, Wilmette Ill. 60091 Filed Mm. 17, 1965, Sex. N0. 440,504 11 Claims. (C1. 2-173) This invention relates to an improvernent in inband visor eaps of the type commonly worn by men and boys for skiing and for other winter sports and activities.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide an inband visor cap with a porous face mask which is normally concealed within the body of the cap when the inband is raised but which may be adjusted when the band is lowered to cover the cheeks, mouth, chin and, in general, the lower portion of a wearers face. Another object is to provide a inband visor cap equipped With a face mask in which the mask is highly stretchable both longitudinally and transversely to provide an efltective face covering for the Wearer when adverse weather couditions, 01' the nature of the winter activity in which the wearer is engaged, requires such additional protection.

A further object is to provide a stretchable face mask or facc band for inband Winter caps which is so mounted that the space it occupies with the body of the cap when the inband is raised does not appreciably alter the fit of that cap upon a wearers head. In other words, the presence 01 such a face mask in its raised position within the cap body Will not cause any significant increased tightness in the fit of the cap.

A still further object is to provide an inband visor cap with means which not only perforrns an important function as a protective face mask When the band is lowered, but which also cont-ributes significantly in holding the cap upon a wearers head and in urging the lowered inband snugly against the ears and back f the head of the wearer, thereby overcoming a major shortcoming of conventional inband caps.

Other objects will appear frorn the specification and drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspectiVe view of a cap embodying the present invention, the cap being illustrated as it is worn with the inband lowered and the mask in operative position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the cap with the inband lowered;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevatiohal view of the. cap showing the inband and face mask in raised position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, the structure of the present invention consists essentially of an inband cap A and a v stretchable face mask B, the invention residing in a specific combination of these elements and in the important results achieved thereby. The inband cap A, exclusive of face mask B, is generally conventional in appearance and construction, and comprises a cap body 10, a visor or beak 11, and an inband 12. In the illustration given, the cap body is of generally cylindrical shape and has front, side, rear, and top portions 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d, respectively, adapted to extend over the forehead, temple, rear, and crown areas of the head of a wearer C. Normally, the cap body, being formed 013 leather or some other substantially unstretchable material, will be formed in several sections secured together by lines of stitching. Thus, in the form illustrated in the drawings, the several sections of the cap body are permanently secured together along lines 0f stitching 13 and 14. It is to be understood, however, that the cap body may be sectioned diiferently, or might even couceivably be formed of a single piece of flexible but generally unstretchable material, without depa1ting fi'0m the teachings of the present invention.

It Will be noted from FIGURES l3 that the lower edge of the cap body extends generally along a single plane and that visor 11 is secured to the cap body along the front portion of the bodys lower edge. Normally, the visor contains a stiffening element of suitable board material and is covered With fabric or leather which matches the material of the cap body.

Like the cap body 10 and visor 11, inband 12 is of generally conventional construction. As shown most ciearly in FIGURES 1 and 2, the inband is horizontally elongated and is secured along one longitudinal edge to the lower side and rear edge portions of the cap body by a. horizontal line of stitching 15. The leading edges of the inband extend in generally vertical directions and are disposed adjacent the rear limits of visor 11. In other words, those portions of the visor which extend rearwardly about the sides of the cap body 10 terminate adjacent the leading edges 12a of the inband. The leading edges of the inband are located directly in front of the wearers temples when the band is lowered (FIGURE 1) so that the lowered band covers not only the temples (along with the side portions of the cap body) but also extends over the ears 16 and about the upper neck or lower rear head portion of a wearer.

Ordinarily, the inband is formed of a flexible but generally inelastic or non-stretchable material. In many cases, the band is formed of a fabric o1 leather which matches the material of the cap body 10 and visor 11. While a stretchable material, such as knitted fabric, might be used for the inband, such material is generally considered unsatisfactory for the purpose, at least partly because of its bulk and the frictional resistance which would occur as the cap, With its band in raised position, is fitted upon wearers head. Since it is important that the internal dimensions of the cap remain substantially constant, or at least not be greatly reduced, when the inband is in its raised position (FIGURE 3), such bands, even when lined, are made as thin as possible, consistent With their main purpose of providing adequate protection for the temples, ears and neck of a wearer when such bands are lowered.

In the illustration given, the free edges of the inband are covered with a protective tape which also serves a decorative function. Additional decoration in the fo1m of an Ornament or emblem 18 may be secured to the outer front portion of the cap body.

Face mask B is formed of a highly stretchable and porous material and, in its unstretched state, is generally rectangular in shape, as indicated in FIGURES 2-4 of the drawings. The mask must be capable of stretching in two directions; that is, both longitudinally and trans- 'versely. It has been found that knitted materials with the ribs of the knitting extending generally horizontally (er longitudinally of the mask) are particularly suitable, although other materials and constructions providing the same properties of double stretchability and porosity might also be used.

The ends 19 of the face mask are secured by generally vertical lines ofstitching 20 (FIGURE 4) to the inside surfaces of the inband (when lowered) adjacent the leading edges 12a thereof. As illustrated most clearly in FIG- URES 2 and 3, the vertical or transverse dimensions of the face mask B in an unstretched state are lass than the vertical dimensions of the inband at the leading edges thereof. Furthermore, the face mask is connected so that, viewing the cap with its inband in lowered position (FIG- URES 1 and 2), the upper limits of the face band are spaced below the lower edge of the cap body. When the inband is raised, the same upper edge of the face mask, which then assumes an inverted position and becornes the lowermost edge, is spaced above the bottorn edge of the cap body. This relative positioning of the parts is important for several reasons. First, when the inband is lowered, the mask is in a suitable position for covering the lower face ortion of a wearer without also extending over his eyes and impairing his vision. Second, when the inband is raisecl, the mask is positioned above the lower edge of the cap body and therefore Will not project downwardly beneath the visor Where its appearance would be eonsidered undesirable or unsightly. More important, since the fit of a cap upon a wearers head is determined largely by the circumferential dimensions of the lower edge portion of cap body 10, the only portion which is normally in snug engagernent with a wearers head, the positioning of the raised face maslc above that lower edge ortion insures that the raised mask will not significantly alter the fit of the cap. Thus, when the inband and mask are in the raised position illustrated in FIGURE 3 the mask is reaclily accommodated in the space between the wearers upper forehead and the inner front surface of the cap well above the lower edge thereof.

It is important that the longitudinal or horizontal dimensions of the elongated face mask be substantially the sarne as the circumferential dimensions of the caps inner front portion when the mask is in an unstretched state. Because of this size relationship, the 1-aised face mask fits snugly against the inner surface of the caps front portion, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. While the cap body nor- -mally provides substantial protection for the portions of a wearers head which it covers, it will be noted that the concealed face mask does serve a useful purpose in providing additional warmth and protection, as Wall as a protective cushion, for the upper freut portion of the head.

When weather conditions or the activities of the wearer require it, the interconnected face mask and inband may be lowered and the mask rnay be stretched over the lower portion of a wearers face (FIGURE 1) Considerable adjustment of the face mask is possible. Normally, the mask Will be worn in the manner illnstrated to cover the cheeks, chin and mouth of the wearer; however, it rnay also be stretched upwardly to extend over the nose and to protect the entire lower face portion cf the wearer below bis eyes. It may even be stretched over the eyes in unusual cases where the advantages of complete face protection outweigh the disadvantages of vision impairment. Where the mask is formed of a lcnitted material, it has been found that sorne rneasure of visibility is retained even though the mask extends over the eyes, because of porosity of the mask and the enlargement of its pores or openings by reason of the stretching action. However, where it is contemplated that the mask will be worn in stretched coudition over substantially the entire face of the wearer below the visor, eye openings may be cut or provided in the mask to increase visibility for the wearer.

An important aspect of the invention lies in the fact that the face mask, when worn in lowered condition, is stretched longitudinally and therefore exerts a forward pulling force on the leading edges of the inband. In the past, con ventional inband caps have been subject to criticism because Wind and cold air is still able to pass rearwardly between the leading edges of such bands and the Wearers head. Because of their usual loose fit and their substantially unstretchable nature, conventional inbands fall short of providing complete protection even for those areas of the head which they cover. However, in the structure of the present invention, the face mask B cooperates With the inband to pull and hold the band snugly against the ears and the sides and back of a wearers head. At the same time, the inband provides a secure mounting for the mask to maintain the mask in stretched condition over the wearers lower face portion.

At the time of purchase of an inband cap, a size is usually selected which Will produce a snug fit on the wearers head when the band is in raised con'dition. When the band is then lowered, the cap tends to fit more loosely because the inband 110 longer occupies space within the cap body. With a conventional inband cap, the slight looseness of fit with the band lowered may be a decided disadvantage, patticularly if the cap is to be W0rn in active sports or during other strenuous activity. For exarnple, a slightlooseness of fit in a sport such as skiing might result in the blowing of a conventional inband cap from a wearers head, particularly i f wind should catch beneath the visor. It is believed apparent that this danger is substantially eliminated by the combination of the present invention since the lowered face mask B not only pulls the inband 12 snugly against the ears and back of a wearers head, but also serves the important function of holding the entire cap in place.

While in the foregoing I have disclosed an embodiment of the present invention in consiclerable detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that many of these details may be varied Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A cap and face mask combination, comprising a cap body of flexible but substantially unstretchable material having a lower edge generally extending along a single plane; said cap body having side, freut, rear and top portions adapted to extend over the temple, forehead, rear and crown areas of a wearers head; and an inband secured to said cap body along the side and rear lower edge portions thereof; said inband being foldable between a raised position disposed Within said cap against the inside surfaces of said side and rear portions and a lowered position eXtending downwardly frorn the lower edges of said side and rear portions; said inband When in lowered position being adapted to cover the ears and lower rear head p0r-' tion of a wearer and having leading edges being adapted to extend 011 opposite sides of a wearers face between bis eyes and temples; and a stretchable, porous, horizontally elongated face mask stretchable in both longitudinal and transverse directions, said mask having free upper and lower longitudinal edges and being secured only at its ends to the inband adjacent said leading edges thereof; the longitudinal dimensions of said face mask in an unstretched state being substantially the same as the circumferential distance along the inside of the cap bodys front portion betWeen the leading edges cf the 1'aised inband; whereby, when said inband is lowered, said face mask may be stretched downwardly away from the cap body and over the lower portion cf a wearers face t0 protect the wearer and to hold the cap body and the lowered inband in sn=ug engagement with the wearers head.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said face mask is formed of knitted material.

3. The structure cf claim 1 in which said face mask is generally rectangular in shape in an unstretched state.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which said inband is flexible but substantially non-stretchable.

5. A cap and face mask combination, comprising a cap body of flexible but substantially unstretchable material having a lower edge generally extending along a Single plane; said cap body having side, front, rear and top portions adapted to extend over the temple, forehead, rear, and crown areas of a wearers head; a visor secured to said cap body along the front lower edge portion thereof and projecting forwardly therefrom; and an inband secured to said cap body along the lower edge portion thereof and being foldable between a raised position disposed Within said cap and a lowered Position extending downwardly therefrom; the inband, When in lowered position, being adapted t0 cover the ears and lower rear head portion of a wearer; said inband having leading edges on said side of said cap body terminating adjacent the rear limits of said visor; and a stretchable, porous, horizontally elongated face mask stretchable in both longitudinal and transverse directions, said mask havirig free; upper and lower longitudinal edges and being securecl only at its ends to the inband adjacent the leading edges thereof; the longitudinal dimensions of said face mask in an unstretched state being substantially the same as the circumferential distance along the inside of the cap bodys front portion between the leading edges of said raised inband; whereby, when said inband is lowered, said face mask may be stretched downwardly away from the cap body and over the lower portion of a Wearers face to protect the wearer and to hold the cap body and the lowered inband in snug engagernent with a wearers head.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which said face mask is of knitted material.

7. The structure of claim 5 in which said face mask is generally rectangular in shape in an unstretched state.

8. The structure f claim in which said inband is flexible but substantially non-stretchable.

9. A cap and face mask combination, comprising a cap body of flexible but substantially unstretchable material having a lower edge extending generally along a single plane; said cap body having side, front, rear and top portions adapted to extend over the temple, forehead, rear, and crown areas of a wearers head; a visor secured to said cap body along the front lower edge ortion thereof and projecting forwardly therefrom; and an inband secured t0 said cap body along the side and rear lower edge portions thereof; said inband being foldable between a raised position disposed within said cap against the inside surface of said side and rear portions and a lowered position extending downwardly from the lower edges of said side and rear portions; said inband when in lowered position being adapted to cover the ears and lower rear head portion of a wearer; said inband having leaading edges on each side of said cap body terminating adjacent the rear limits of said visor; and a horizontally elongated, knitted face mask stretchable in both longitudinal and transverse directions, said mask having free upper and lower longitudinal edges and being connected at its ends to the leading edges of said inband along generally vertical lines of stitching; said face mask having its upper longitudinal edge terminating a1; a spaced distance b elow the lower front edge of the cap body When the inband is lowered and having its lower longitudinal edge spaced above the lower front edge portion of the cap body when said inband is raised; the longitudinal dimensions of said face mask in an unstretched state being substantially the same as the circumferential distance along the inside of the cap bodys front portion between the leading edges of the raised inband; whereby, when said inband is lowered, said face mask may be stretched downwardly away from the cap body and over the lower portion of a Wearers face to protect the wearer and to hold the cap body and the lowered inband in snug engagement With a wearers head.

10. The structure of claim 9 in which said face mask is generally rectangular in shape in an unstretched state.

11. The structure of claim 9 in which said inband is flexible but substantially non-stretchable.

References Cited by the Examina UNITED STATES PATENTS 251,572 12/1881 Goldrnann 2172 873,856 12/1907 Gordon 2-172 1057205 3/1913 Yudelson 2172 X 1525,030 2/1925 Galanis 2--173 X 1804356 5/1931 Towenthal 2172 2839757 6/1958 Gianola 2l73 X 2885683 5/1959 Lipkin 2172 FOREIGN PATENTS 8,423 1/1908 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. KRIZMANICH, Assiszant Examiner. 

1. A CAP AND FACE MASK COMBINATION, COMPRISING A CAP BODY OF FLEXIBLE BUT SUBSTANTIALLY UNSTRETCHABLE MATERIAL HAVING A LOWER EDGE EDGE GENERALLY EXTENDING ALONG A SINGLE PLANE; SAID CAP BODY HAVING SIDE, FRONT, REAR AND TOP PORTIONS ADAPTED TO EXTEND OVER THE TEMPLE, FOREHEAD, REAR AND CROWN AREAS OF A WEARER''S HEAD; AND AN INBAND SECURED TO SAID CAP BODY ALONG THE SIDE AND REAR LOWER EDGE PORTIONS THEREOF; SAID INBAND BEING FOLDABLE BETWEEN A RAISED POSITION DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CAP AGAINST THE INSIDE SURFACES OF SAID SIDE AND REAR PORTIONS AND LOWERED POSITION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID SIDE AND REAR PORTIONS; SAID INBAND WHEN IN LOWERED POSITION BEING ADAPTED TO COVER THE EARS AND LOWER REAR HEAD PORTION OF A WEARER AND HAVING LEADING EDGES BEING ADAPTED TO EXTEND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF A WEARER''S FACE BETWEEN HIS EYES AND TEMPLES; AND A STRETCHABLE, POROUS, HORIZONTALLY ELONGATED FACE MASK STRETCHABLE IN BOTH LONGITUDINAL AND TRANSVERSE DIRECTIONS, SAID MASK HAVING FREE UPPER AND LOWER LONGITUDINAL EDGES AND BEING SECURED ONLY AT ITS ENDS TO THE INBAND ADJACENT SAID LEADING EDGES THEREOF; THE LONGITUDINAL DIMENSIONS OF SAID FACE MASK IN AN UNSTRETCHED STATE BEING SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME AS THE CIRCUMFERENTIAL DISTANCE ALONG THE INSIDE OF THE CAP BODY''S FRONT PORTION BETWEEN THE LEADING EDGES OF THE RAISED INBAND; WHEREBY, WHEN SAID INBAND IS LOWERED, SAID FACE MASK MAY BE STRETCHED DOWNWARDLY AWAY FROM THE CAP BODY AND OVER THE LOWER PORTION OF A WEARER''S FACE TO PROTECT THE WEARER AND TO HOLD THE CAP BODY AND THE LOWERED INBAND IN SNUT ENGAGEMENT WITH THE WEARER''S HEAD. 